HBO Max, Sorkin line up West Wing special

The cast of The West Wing is reuniting for the first time for the special

US streamer HBO Max and The West Wing creator Aaron Sorkin have teamed up to develop a one-off special of the political drama series ahead of the US presidential elections.

A West Wing Special to Benefit When We All Vote will feature a theatrical stage presentation of the Hartsfield’s Landing episode from the show’s third season. The special will premiere on the streaming service this fall.

The production is aimed at supporting When We All Vote, a non-profit, non-partisan organisation co-chaired by Michelle Obama that was founded to increase participation in national elections. HBO Max parent WarnerMedia will make a donation to the group.

Sorkin will exec produce and write original material for the special, while Thomas Schlamme will direct.

The special will reunite the show’s original cast for the first time since its conclusion and will shoot over multiple days at the Orpheum Theatre in Downtown Los Angeles in early October, in compliance with Covid safety regulations.

Rob Lowe, Dulé Hill, Allison Janney, Janel Moloney, Richard Schiff, Bradley Whitford and Martin Sheen will reprise their roles for the special, which will also feature guest appearances, including a message from Michelle Obama.

Additional cast members and special guests from the worlds of public service and the arts will be announced in the coming weeks.

Spanning seven seasons between 1999 and 2006, The West Wing took a behind-the-scenes look at an eclectic group of frenzied staffers in the Oval Office and the West Wing of the White House.